Black-out shield for head lamps



y 1943- B. J. DAVIS 2,323,978

BLACKOUT SHIELD FOR HEADLAMPS Filed July 10, 1942 I /0 INVENTOR vflu/Pra/v J 04:45

BY W ATTORNEY v Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6Claims.

This invention relates to headlamps of motor vehicles. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an attachment readily coupledwith a headlamp and forming thereon a blackout shield which el minatesall glare and renders the headlights substantially invisible at a pointabove the center of the lamp, while at the same time projectingsufficient light onto the roadway to enable the vehicle to travel at amoderate rate of speed in safety. The novel features of the inventionwill be best understood from the following description when takentogether with the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of theinvention is disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designatedby suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a blackoutshield made according to my invention diagrammatically illustrating itsattachment to a vehicle headlight, and;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the shield as shown in Fig. l with part of theconstruction broken away and in section.

In the operation of vehicles during blackouts, and particularly suchvehicles as are permitted to travel through streets and over roadways,it has been recommended that such vehicles travel at low rates of speedusing dim parking lights. Operating vehicles under these conditions isextremely dangerous and has caused many accidents and furthermore, eventhese dim lights are readily detectable at points above the center ofthe headlights by reason of the reflector surfaces of the lamps.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide an attachment to headlampsof motor vehicles in the form of a shield, which eliminates all glare ofheadlights above the center line of the lamp and yet projects beyond thefront of the vehicle a subdued, soft, non-glaring light for fifty feetor more to enable a vehicle to travel with safety over a street orroadway at a moderate rate of speed. It is also desirable to provide ashield, inner surfaces of which are blackened or darkened to materiallyminimize reflecting characteristics thereof. Further, it i preferredthat the outer surface of the enlarged portion of the shield have anouter surface at the lower portion thereof relatively dark in color andpreferably of a dark green or dark blue color value or a combinationthereof to aid in softening the light and also to prevent a reflectedglare emanating from this surface. Other outer surfaces of the blackoutshield are also preferably darkened.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown one adaptation of theinvention which comprises a relatively large cylindrical body to, oneend ll of which is open and the other end closed by an end wall or platel2. The cylinder I0 is made of a thin wall body having sufficientrigidity to maintain the contour thereof and the opened end portion ofthi cylinder is adapted to be forced between the casing l3 of a headlampand the inner reflector shell 14 diagrammatically represented in dot anddash lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

It is quite customary in standard lamps of this type and kind to employrubber rings between the casing 13 and the reflector i4 and the cylinderof the blackout shield fits between these rings sufficiently snug toretain the shield against accidental displacement from the lamp.

When the shield is attached to the lamp, the lens l5 of the lamp willactually be arranged within the chamber iii of the cylindrical portionI0 of the shield.

The wall or plate I2 has a crescent-shaped opening I! therein, thecurved boundary wall $8 of which is eccentric with respect to thecurvature of the cylinder 10; whereas the lower straight edge I9 of theopening I! is arranged slightly below the center of the cylinder ill.

Extending from the cylindrical portion IS on the wall l2 thereof is asemi-cylindrical portion or hood 2D, the curved wall of which conformswith the curved wall [8 of the aperture H, as clearly seen in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing, excepting that the wall of the hood 2! extends beyond thelimits of the opening l'i, the side wall portions 2! of which arearranged below the lower straight wall [9 of the aperture IT.

The hood 2!] includes at its outer end a closure or end wall 22, thelower edge 23 of which is in alinement with the lower edge of theextensions 2| so as to provide between the walls l2 and 22 overlappedsections, as clearly indicated at 24 in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Theseoverlapped sections prevent direct transmission of light through theshield as will be apparent.

While it is possible to construct the complete blackout shield from aunitary body of metal, plastic or other materials, in the constructionshown a simple adaptation of the invention is illustrated primarily ineliminating expensive die costs. For example, the cylinder i0 is madewith an outwardly projecting flange 25, around which is crimped a hookflange 26 on the plate l2. The hood 20 has at its inner end anarch-shaped flange 2' seating 0n the inner surface of the wall l2bordering the curved portion 18 of the aperture I! and is welded orotherwise secured to the wall 2. The outer end of the hood 20 has anoutwardly extending flange 28 similar to the flange engaged by a hookflange 29 on the end wall 22.

The inner surfaces of the cylinder l0, wall I2, hood 20 and end wall 22are all preferably blackened or darkened as diagrammatically illustratedat 30 in Fig. l of the drawing and, in fact, all outer surfaces of theblackout shield may be correspondingly darkened excepting that it ispreferred that the outer surface of the wall 12 below the edge l9 andbelow the lower ends of the extensions 2| be coated as indicated bystippling 3|, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, in a relatively darkcolor preferably green although blue or a combination of blue and greencan be employed. The coloring of this surface prevents any appreciablereflection of light and has a tendency to soften the light which isreflected through the shield.

From actual tests of blackout shields of the type and kind on pleasurevehicles, it has been found that, by arranging one shield upon eachheadlamp, sufficient light will be projected to feet or more in front ofthe vehicle extending well to the sides of the vehicle to insure safeoperation of the vehicle at a relatively slow speed, say from 10 to 20miles per hour. One vehicle equipped with these blackout or dimoutshields will readily detect the approach of the other vehicle butwithout experiencing any glare whatever and the marginal outline of thevehicle will be clearly noted for safe passing of the vehicle, providingboth headlights, at the time, are in operation.

While the invention has been specifically described for use onheadlights or lamps of motor vehicles, it will be understood that theshields are applicable to any type and kind of light and on any type andkind of vehicle. I

In view of the fact that headlights of motor vehicles have beenstandardized in recent years, a blackout shield of one size anddimension will be applicable to substantially all of the more recentvehicles. Other special sizes can also be made, however, to suitmodified forms of lamp constructions.

It will be apparent that my improved shield comprises two housingportions, one, the larger portion, substantially conforming to thegreater diameter of the lamp and the other materially less in size andrepresenting a semi-circular portion disposed eccentrically with respectto the first portion, with a restricted light discharge opening in thefirst portion materially above the center thereof; the first portion andthe second portion collectively forming a complete shield for the upperportion of the lamp.

It will also be apparent that by reason of the fact that no screws,clamping devices or the like are used in mounting the shields inposition, these shields may be quickly attached and detached thusdispensing with the necessity of using the shields except in emergencyblackout periods.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. Fhe combination with a headlamp of the character described includingthe usual outer lens, of a shield readily detachable with said lamp,said shield comprising a cylindrical portion enveloping the lightreflecting area of the lamp lens and projecting straight beyond the lensof the lamp, the cylindrical portion having an end wall spaced withrespect to the lamp lens, said end wall having a substantially half moondischarge opening slightly above the center thereof, a semi-circularhood projecting from said wall and conforming to the contour of part ofthe opening in said wall, said hood in combination with said end wallcollectivel shieldin direct rays of light emanating from said lampthrough said opening, said hood having an opaque end wall spaced withrespect to the end wall of said cylindrical portion, and said end wallshaving overlapping portions.

2. The combination with a headlamp of the character described includingthe usual outer lens, of a shield readily detachable with aid lamp, saidshield comprising a cylindrical portion enveloping the light reflectingarea of the lamp lens and projecting straight beyond the lens of thelamp, the cylindrical portion having an end wall spaced with respect tothe lamp lens, said end wall havin a substantially half moon dischargeopening slightly above the center thereof, a semi-circular hoodprojecting from said wall and conforming to the contour of part of theopening in said wall, said hood in combination with said end wallcollectively shielding direct rays of light emanating from said lampthrough said opening, said hood having an opaque end wall spaced withrespect to the end wall of said cylindrical portion, said end wallshaving overlapping portions, and inner surfaces of the cylindricalportion, hood and end walls being darkened.

3. The combination with a headlamp of the character described includingthe usual outer lens, of a shield readily detachable with said lamp,said shield comprising a cylindrical portion enveloping the lightreflecting area of the lamp lens and projecting straight beyond the lensof the lamp, the cylindrical portion having an end wall spaced wthrespect to the lamp lens, said end wall having a substantially half moondischarge opening slightly above the center thereof, a semi-circularhood projecting from said'wall and conforming to the contour of part ofthe opening in said wall, said hood in combination with said end wallcollectively shielding direct rays of light emanating from said lampthrough said opening, said hood having an opaque end wall spaced withrespect to the end wall of said cylindrical portion, said end wallshaving overlapping portions, inner surfaces of the cylindrical portion,hood and end walls being darkened, and the outer surface of the firstnamed end wall below said hood having a dark greenish color.

4. The combination with a lamp projecting a beam of light from the lamplens, of a shield attachment detachable with respect to the lamp andprojecting from the lamp in the direction of the beam of light emanatingtherefrom, said attachment comprising a large housing portion of adiameter greater. than the lens and completely enveloping the beam oflight emanating from the lamp lens, the outer end of the housing havingan end wall provided with a light discharge opening in alignment withthe upper central portion only of the beam, said end wall being opaque,a reduced hood projecting outwardly from said end wall of the housingportion and bordering the upper and side portions of said opening toenvelop the upper part of the light beam projected through the openingof said housing, and said hood having an opaque end wall overlapping theopaque end wall of the housing bordering the lower portion of saiddischarge opening for completely shielding the beam from directtransmission of light.

5. A blackout shield for lights of the character described, comprisng alarge cylindrical body open at one end and having a closed wall at theother end, said wall having at and above the central portion thereof asubstantially crescent shaped light discharging opening, a semi-circularhood projecting from said wall and bordering the upper and side portionsof said opening to envelop the upper portion of said opening, thecurvature of said hood being eccentric with respect to the curvature ofsaid housing, and said hood having an outer opaque end wall spaced fromthe first named end wall and of greater depth than the depth of theopening in said first named end wall.

6. A blackout shield for lights of the character described, comprising alarge cylindrical body open at one end and having a closed wall at theother end, said wall having at and above the central portion thereof asubstantially crescent shaped light discharging opening, a semi-circularhood projecting from said wall and bordering the upper and side portionsof said opening to envelop the upper portion of said opening, thecurvature of said hood being eccentric with respect to the curvature ofsaid housing, said hood having an outer opaque end wall spaced from thefirst named end wall and of greater depth than the depth of the openingin said first named end wall to provide overlapped portions on said endwalls, and the hood including side projections of a depth equal to thedepth of the end wall of said hood.

BURTON J. DAVIS.

